Membrane Bioreactor Market Estimated at $488 M by 2013

Jul 28, 2008

According to a new technical market research report, Membrane Bioreactors: Global Markets (MST047B) from BCC Research, the global market for membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 10.5 percent, increasing in value from $296 million in 2008 to $488 million by 2013.

The global market for MBR technology for wastewater treatment has grown steadily since 1990, when it was worth only $1 million. Growth rates are not the same for all world regions and are not increasing from the same base. Common to all regions, however, is the fact that sales of the technology are growing faster than the gross domestic products of countries installing the systems and more rapidly than the industries that use them.

Municipal/domestic wastewater treatment was the earliest application of MBRs and is still the largest application, accounting for 44 percent of all systems. During the forecast period, sewage treatment will continue to be the primary use for MBR systems. A trend toward larger capacity municipal plants is prevalent in the United States and Europe. However, satellite wastewater plants for smaller communities, housing developments, tourist resorts, schools, shopping centers etc. also are in demand. Growth in this sector is expected to increase in all world regions, driven by the adoption of MBRs for treating numerous small domestic waste streams.